Ballet Help Desk

Listen to Ballet Help Desk ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ BalletHelpDesk Eva Stone believes every young woman in ballet should learn to choreograph, and she is on a mission to make that happen. In this episode, the Pacific Northwest Ballet faculty member shares why she sees choreography as essential to developing artistic confidence, voice, and agency in female dancers. She talks abo...

Listen to Ballet Help Desk ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ BalletHelpDesk Dancer Daria Breslin shares her path from early training in Maryland to professional life with City Ballet of San Diego. She talks about the lessons learned at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and Nashville Ballet, the importance of mentorship and community, and the realities of auditions and feedback. Daria's story of...

Listen to Ballet Help Desk ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ BalletHelpDesk Eugene Ballet has grown from a small regional company into a thriving school and professional ensemble. Founder Toni Pimble, Artistic Director Jennifer Martin, and School Director Sara Lombardi discuss the company's journey, their approach to dancer training, including how dancers in their Aspirant program move...

Listen to Ballet Help Desk ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ BalletHelpDesk In this episode of  #NoThirds , we sit down with Fran Veyette, co-founder of Veyette Virtual Ballet School, to talk about the realities of ballet training and the role parents play in a dancer's journey. Fran shares why training smarter is more important than training harder, what families should consider when c...

Listen to Ballet Help Desk ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ BalletHelpDesk Davit Karapetyan, Director of The School of Philadelphia Ballet, joins us to talk about how the school is structured and how dancers move through its levels, from the pre-professional program to PBII and beyond. He explains how auditions are evaluated, what adjudicators look for, and the common mistakes dancers...

Listen to Ballet Help Desk ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ BalletHelpDesk Deanna Seay, Training Coordinator at the School of Richmond Ballet, joins us to talk about how dancers move through the school, from early training to the pre-professional program, trainee level, and second company. She explains what adjudicators look for in auditions (and common mistakes), how scholarships work...

Listen to Ballet Help Desk ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ BalletHelpDesk This is the first episode in our new  Dancer Stories series, where professional dancers share their training paths their move into company life. Jaya Dhand talks about her experience at Indiana University, how she got hired by Ballet West 2, and her recent promotion to the main company. She explains the choices...

Listen to Ballet Help Desk ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ BalletHelpDesk Former Pacific Northwest Ballet principals Sarah and Seth Orza share their training backgrounds, the hardest parts of becoming professionals, and the advice that shaped their paths. They talk about company moves, the realities of life onstage, and the transition into founding Orza ballet shoes. The conversation...

Listen to Ballet Help Desk ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ BalletHelpDesk Fran shares more advice for students in Part 2 of #NoThirds: how respect and awareness shape auditions, why community matters, and what young dancers should know about contracts and career readiness. Interested in working with Fran at Veyette Virtual Ballet School? Check out our Back to Dance Guide for an exclus...

Listen to Ballet Help Desk ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ BalletHelpDesk Listeners asked, and Fran Veyette answers! In this  #NoThirds  "Fran's Mailbag" episode, he breaks down how casting really works, whether principals dance less, what happens when dancers date (and break up), and yes — the truth about dogs in the studio. This is Part 1 of a two-part series. Tune back in tomorrow...

Listen to Ballet Help Desk ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ BalletHelpDesk When the Oscar-winning film  Black Swan hit theaters, audiences were captivated by its haunting portrayal of the ballet world. In this episode, former professional dancer Lauren Fadeley-Veyette shares her experience being cast in the movie and takes us inside the rehearsal studio and film set. She reflects on wo...

Listen to Ballet Help Desk ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ BalletHelpDesk David Morse, Academy Principal and Director of the Professional Training Division at Cincinnati Ballet Academy, joins us to share insights on how the school is structured, what adjudicators look for in auditions, and how scholarships work for students. He also discusses the culture he aims to foster at CBA, how...

Listen to Ballet Help Desk ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ BalletHelpDesk Mona Nicholas takes us behind the scenes of the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi. She shares how the event is structured, what makes it different from other competitions, and why it attracts dancers from around the world, including professionals. We cover the selection process, scorin...

Listen to Ballet Help Desk ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ BalletHelpDesk Nicholas Ziegler, board member of IBC Helsinki, explains how the competition is structured, how dancers are selected, and what makes the event stand out. He shares tips for first-time competitors, talks about the role of the jury and master teachers, and reflects on the rapid growth of ballet competitions around...

Listen to Ballet Help Desk ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ BalletHelpDesk What does it take to raise dancers in today's ballet world? Racheal Nye, Director of the Yvonne Chouteau School and Studio Company at Oklahoma City Ballet, shares why honesty, adaptability, and mental health are essential in training. We talk about the pressures of audition season, how social media influences yo...

Listen to Ballet Help Desk ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ BalletHelpDesk When is it really time for a dancer to move into full-time training? In this episode of #NoThirds, we unpack the big factors that go into that decision. From the benefits of full-time programs and the right age to make the switch to how the social environment and quality of teaching can shape a dancer's growth,...

Listen to Ballet Help Desk ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ BalletHelpDesk MOSA Ballet School was founded by a mother who wanted to create the kind of school she would have wanted her daughter to attend -- a place where students are truly heard and respected. Combining classical ballet, contemporary dance, and holistic training, MOSA focuses on developing not just the performer, but th...

Listen to Ballet Help Desk ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ BalletHelpDesk This is part two of our series with siblings Bryce and Noelle Lee, who bring both the male and female ballet dancer perspective to the conversation. Bryce, founder of the Male Dance Connection, and Noelle share their experiences in ballet, highlighting both the challenges and successes male dancers face. They ta...

Listen to Ballet Help Desk ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ BalletHelpDesk In this two-part series, siblings Bryce and Noelle Lee bring both the male and female ballet dancer perspective to the conversation. Bryce, Founder of the Male Dance Connection, and Noelle share their experiences in ballet, highlighting the challenges and triumphs of male dancers. They discuss the importance of...

Listen to Ballet Help Desk ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ BalletHelpDesk In this conversation, Sarah Wroth discusses the current state of the ballet program at Indiana University, addressing concerns about state mandates and program restructuring. She emphasizes the strong support from the community and alumni, clarifies the differences between degree options, and reassures that curr...

Listen to Ballet Help Desk ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ BalletHelpDesk This is a rerelease of one of our popular episodes from our series on ballet summer intensives. Wondering how much the RAs see of student antics? More than you think! We're talking with Robert Fulton and Camille Kellems, both professional dancers and also RAs at ballet summer intensives. Get ready for a mix of i...

Listen to Ballet Help Desk ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ BalletHelpDesk What do ballet teachers really  want students and parents to understand? In this episode of  #NoThirds , we tackle issues in ballet training from the perspective of the teacher -- what frustrates them, what motivates them, and what they wish families better understood about the training process. From managing ex...

Listen to Ballet Help Desk ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ BalletHelpDesk Miriam Landis trained at the School of American Ballet, danced with Miami City Ballet, and now teaches at Pacific Northwest Ballet, all experiences that informed her work as the author of three young adult novels set in the ballet world. In this episode, she talks about the reality of the professional ballet pat...

Listen to Ballet Help Desk ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ BalletHelpDesk In Part 2 of our two-part interview with physical therapist Erika Mayall, we explore how ballet schools are supporting dancer health—and where they still fall short. Erika offers practical advice for dancers and families without access to dance-specific care, busts common ballet injury myths, and shares her favo...

In Part 1 of our two-part interview with physical therapist Erika Mayall of Allegro Performance and Wellness, we dive into why ballet dancers need specialized care from providers who truly understand the unique demands ballet puts on the body. Erika shares her journey into working with dancers, how injury prevention differs for ballet artists, common misdiagnoses, and early warning signs dancers a...